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BoredOS/docs/appdev/examples/01_hello_cli.md
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<h1>Example 01: Hello CLI</h1>
<p><em>The absolute basics. Writing a terminal program.</em></p>
</div>
---
This example demonstrates the bare minimum structure of a BoredOS application that outputs text to the standard output (usually the Terminal executing the binary).
## Concepts Introduced
* Including `stdlib.h` for basic IO.
* The `main()` entry point.
* Using `printf()` for formatted output.
* Declaring app metadata via source annotations.
---
## The Code (`src/userland/cli/hello_world.c`)
```c
// BOREDOS_APP_DESC: Hello World — a minimal CLI demo.
#include <stdlib.h>
int main(int argc, char **argv) {
// Standard library initialization is handled automatically by crt0.asm
// Print a simple string to the terminal
printf("Hello, World from BoredOS Userland!\n");
// Print some formatted data
int favorite_number = 67;
printf("Did you know my favorite number is %d?\n", favorite_number);
// Returning from main automatically terminates the process cleanly
return 0;
}
```
## How it Works
1. **`#include <stdlib.h>`**: We include the SDK's standard library header which gives us access to `printf`.
2. **`int main(...)`**: Every process begins execution here (managed transparently by `crt0.asm`).
3. **`printf(...)`**: The SDK routes this call internally directly to the `SYS_WRITE` system call, making it available on the terminal.
4. **`return 0`**: A successful exit code.
5. **`BOREDOS_APP_DESC` / `BOREDOS_APP_ICONS`**: These comment annotations are read by the build system (`gen_userland_note.sh`) and embedded as a `boredos_app_metadata_t` NOTE entry inside the compiled `.elf`. The File Explorer and Desktop use this to display the correct icon. See [`elf_metadata.md`](../elf_metadata.md) for full details.
## Running It
If you build the project, you can open the Terminal and type:
```sh
/ # hello_world
Hello, World from BoredOS Userland!
Did you know my favorite number is 67?
/ #
```